America's Call to Leadership in an Age of Scandal

By Vincent Bove, CPP

As America prepares to celebrate the 230th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, it is wise to reflect on the opening words of Thomas Jefferson, “When in the course of human events…” Jefferson continues by enumerating grievances against the British crown to stir up the patriot’s response to massive and pervasive abuses of power. In 1858, senatorial candidate Abraham Lincoln described the stirring call of Jefferson’s words as “the electric cord... that links the hearts of patriotic and libertyloving people together.”

Everything old is new again.

There is a clear and present massive and pervasive expression of an abuse of authority throughout all elements of American life. Although America earned independence through the sacrifices and courage of early patriots, Thomas Jefferson would have a field day trying to stir contemporary America to transform from a culture ripe with abuses of authority. Thomas Jefferson, who was admired and supported by Abraham Lincoln, would beckon present-day American patriots to transform this great land with a new age of character, truthfulness and dedication to duty.

Current headlines show the need for an American transformation. On July 18, 2005, San Diego, California’s Acting Mayor Michael Zucchet and Councilman Ralph Inzunza were convicted on federal corruption charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy and extortion. John G. Rowland, the former governor of Connecticut, was driven from office by a corruption scandal; he pleaded guilty on December 23, 2004, to a federal felony charge of “conspiracy to steal honest service.” Now a convicted felon in prison, ex-governor Rowland can no longer vote or hold public office.

In New Jersey, the former mayor of Marlboro Township, Matthew V. Scannapieco, pleaded guilty on April 12, 2005, to accepting $245,000.00 in bribes and tax evasion. The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Christopher J. Christie, stated, “As Marlboro Township grew and faced development pressures, Scannapieco was there with his hand wide open.” Also in the Garden State, on February 23, 2005, FBI agents arrested 11 Monmouth County officials in a corruption roundup that included three sitting mayors, four current councilmen and a police commissioner. This front-page headline rivaled the largest graft bust on one day in state history.

The sting took place only seven days after enlightening, alarming Congressional testimony by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III on February 16, 2005. Director Mueller stated, “Public corruption continues to pose the greatest threat level to the integrity of all levels of government. Recent investigative efforts have intensified to identify and convict Immigration, Department of State and DMV officials illegally selling visas or other citizenship documents and driver licenses to anyone with enough money... Many major metropolitan areas in the United States have witnessed the indictment and conviction of corrupt public officials who betrayed the public trust for profit or personal gain... Over the last two years alone, the FBI has convicted more then 1,050 corrupt government employees, including 177 federal officials, 158 state officials and more than 365 police officers.”

The culture of abuse is not isolated within public service. It runs rampant throughout the private sector as well. WorldCom’s former CEO, Bernard Ebbers, represents a legion of private officials— including such formerly esteemed companies as Enron and Arthur Andersen—who now epitomize a culture of greed, dishonesty, dereliction of duty and arrogance. On March 15, 2005, Mr. Ebbers was found guilty on all nine counts of securities fraud and of making false statements to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years in prison on July 14, 2005.

The pandemic abuse of authority can also be found within the American school system at the highest levels of authority. On September 13, 2005, Angelo Petrone, the former Yonkers, N.Y., school superintendent pleaded guilty to perjury and tampering with documents during an official investigation. Previously responsible for the health, education and welfare of 26,500 students in 41 schools, Petrone now awaits sentencing. In another incident of even greater magnitude is ex-Chief Frank Tassone of Roslyn, N.Y., who pleaded guilty on September 27, 2005, to first- and second-degree larceny. Mr. Tassone’s plea bargain will lead to a four- to 12-year prison sentence and restitution of more than $2 million. The district auditor of the Roslyn schools is also accused, and the probe may lead to 50 other school districts—the most shameful and extraordinary theft and corruption scandal to strike the American school system.

America’s national pastime has likewise been poisoned by dishonesty and abuse of privilege. Senate hearings have acknowledged baseball’s weak policies that allow steroids and other banned substances—effectively turning a blind eye to cheating as a way to enhance an athlete’s competitive edge.

America’s Response

Individuals in positions of authority must realize that their roles carry sacrosanct trust, which demands conduct beyond reproach. Leaders within both the public and private sectors must walk a pathway that is dedicated to service and highlighted by personal character, wisdom and integrity.

Abraham Lincoln remains an icon of service to country in the midst of conflict, turmoil and scandal. In the book, Lincoln’s Virtues, An Ethical Biography, author William Lee Miller gives a fresh, insightful and engaging story. The president’s example is critical to America’s response in an age when many small-minded individuals are attracted to positions of power for self-aggrandizement and who are out of touch with disenfranchised fellow citizens. By studying Lincoln’s actions, speeches and writing, as well as personal accounts from those who knew him, the book provides the current American culture of abuse with the needed response: a progression of moral development by one preparing for, and dedicated to, public service.

Abraham Lincoln is the paragon of a great American politician, one who entered American politics with full realization that the essence of service must be grounded in moral responsibility. As a youth reading by the frontier fireside to develop his academic and moral fiber, Lincoln serves America to this very day as a model. The higher he rose and the greater the power, the worthier his conduct became. Abraham Lincoln’s legacy holds the key to the current scandalous trend of a public and private pestilence of corruption: Lincoln was not only a great man of profound authority, but also a good man of unquestionable character. His character is inseparable from his thought, word and action and can be concisely understood through his words on February 27, 1860: “Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

Hear and understand Abraham Lincoln well, all who are in positions of power and authority over the people of America.

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